Minimum order of 2,500 labels (or 1,000 labels plus fee)
Average cycle time for machine ~ 800 tags per hour
Average cycle time for machine ~ 400 labels per hours
electricity is 0.87amp/10watt (per machine)
High electricity costs: 7amp per machine.
Quality
Tags withstand 50 industrial washes.vs. Only the high-durability types of labels withstand 50 industrial washes without breaking.
No heat mark (“halo”) or discoloration on fabric. vs. Heat marks and/or discoloration on fabrics are common.
If garment shrinks after washing, tag also shrinks. vs. If garment shrinks after washing, label causes unsightly dent on garment.
Production Speed & Flexibility
Ability to change colors and graphics on demand. Brand new graphics can be ready for production in less than 20 minutes! vs. 3- to 5-day lead time for any changes to artwork.
Ability to reduce “show through” by reducing ink laydown – great for intimate apparel. vs. Limited ability to control “show through”.
Logistics
Supplies can be ordered on-demand. vs. Necessity to order a 3-month label supply and store it.
After pad printing inside tags, there are no extra steps for drying. Tags are dry to the touch instantaneously so items can be stacked and packed/handled immediately
Items need to be laid out to dry or dried in ovens or with air guns. These extra steps make the production process 5 to 40 times slower than with pad printing.
PRODUCTION COSTS
Pad printing uses about 10 times less ink than screen printing because ink is laid down in a very thin layer and only on the printed area
Screen printing uses about 10 times more ink than pad printing because extra ink is spread over the whole area of the screen and the print itself is several times thicker
No drying – no extra labor costs
Extra labor involved in drying
No drying – no extra utility costs
Extra utility costs involved in drying
PRODUCTION SPACE
Pad printing machines for clothes have a footprint several times smaller than that of screen printing machines. Drying tables/ovens are not needed
Screen printing machines for clothes have a footprint several times larger than that of pad printing machines. Drying tables or ovens take a lot of additional space.
Quality
Prints are soft to the touch and comfortable for the consumer.
Prints are thick, hence a little rough and not as comfortable for the consumer